Historic places in Madrid

17 historic buildings, sites and memorials in Madrid.

Ranked with the travel guide's picks and well-known places first.

DrinkMalasaña-Chueca
Café Gijón
A historic literary cafe. The outdoor terraza is nice in the summer.
DrinkLa Latina-Austrias
Café de Oriente
Overlooks the Plaza Oriente and faces Palacio Real. Outdoor tables in summer, cozy indoor rooms in the cold months. Basement banquet room with a glass floor over ancient remains. Excellent food.
SeeLa Latina-Austrias
Catedral de la Almudena
This massive cathedral faces the Palacio Real. Finished near the end of 20th century in the Neo-Gothic style, it is where the Princes of Asturias Felipe (current King Felipe VI) and Letizia were married in 2004. Especially noteworthy are the 5,000-pipe organ, a large painted 15th-century Gothic altarpiece, and the empty 12th-century coffin of Madrid's patron saint, Isidro. Like many cathedrals before it, construction took a while, being started in the 19th century while it was only inaugurated in 1992. The cathedral thus reflects a mixture of styles which sometimes harmonize and sometimes clash. One of the reasons for the late start of construction of a cathedral in the capital of one of the world's most catholic states was the power of the archbishops of Toledo who did not want to give up their ecclesiastical power to the upstart Madrid. Similarly the monarchy had moved its residence from Toledo to Madrid in part to escape the influence of the church and installing a bishop in Madrid (a requirement for a cathedral) seemed somewhat counter productive. The cathedral is also the site of many burials of important figures, including the daughter of Franco.
Daily 09:00-20:30€1 (requested donation)
SeeSalamanca
Museo Arqueológico Nacional
National Archeology Museum
Don't let the sound of it frighten you. This large, well-designed museum opened again in April 2014 after several years of renovation works. It houses an incredible collection of archaeological finds from across the peninsula. It leaves the visitor with a sense of the chronology of civilization in Spain (Iberian, Phoenician, Greek, Roman, Visigoth, Arab, and into the modern age). The famous Dama de Elche, an Iberian (pre-Roman) goddess statue, is in this museum. There are also a few pieces from ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
Tue-Sat 09:30-20:00, Sun and holidays 09:30-15:00€3 (adults), €1.50 (concessions); free on Sa after 14:30, Su mornings, and national holidays
SeeRetiro-Paseo del Arte
Museo Naval de Madrid
Naval Museum of Madrid
A beautiful museum with a large interesting collection about Spanish naval history, from the efforts of kingdoms of Aragon and Castilia, the many successes and few failures (what's known in English as the defeat of the Spanish Armarda has a section) in the 15th-17th centuries, the drastic decline in the 19th century and its consequences in terms of losing the country's empire, the division of the navy into opposing sides in the 1930s Civil War, to today. It's almost all labelled in English as well as Spanish. A temporary exhibition traces today's Spanish flag from its origin as the navy's attempt to have one that contrasted well with other navy's flags, and the museum has the very large flag flown by the Spanish flagship at the Battle of Trafalgar (the loss is blamed on the French admiral for insisting on sailing out of Cadiz to fight it!)
Sep- Jul: Tue-Sun 10:00-19:00; Aug: Tue-Sun 10:00-15:00Free (donations requested)
SeeMalasaña-Chueca
Museo de Historia de Madrid
Museum of History of Madrid
This museum is dedicated to the history of Madrid from 1561 to present. Much of the history is explained by referencing exhibited paintings depicting people or events from the time, so it is also an art museum. Several maps and models (including two large ones in the basement) show how Madrid grew since the 16th century. All exhibits are explained in both English and Spanish.
Tue-Sun 10:00-20:00Free
SeeMoncloa
Museo del Traje
The Costume Museum
Offers a wide selection of historical and more temporary costumes (from the early 1200s to now) which shows the aspects of different cultures and Spain. The museum also organizes many activities and events. The building itself won some architectural awards in the 1970s. The restaurant underneath the museum is fairly good. The museum is surrounded by sprawling gardens, replete with well maintained lawns and fountains, are a pleasant place to relax.
Tue-Sat 09:30-19:00, Sun and holidays 10:00-15:00; closed 1 and 6 Jan, 1 and 15 May, 24-25 and 31 Dec€3 (adults), €1.50 (concessions), free (students/children/seniors); free on Sa after 14:30, all day Su, and national holidays
SeeMalasaña-Chueca
Palacio Longoria
Longoria Palace
Exceptionally ornamental art nouveau building, erected 1902–03 for the banker and politician Javier González Longoria. It was designed by the Catalan architect Jose Grasses Riera and is considered to be one of the most important and beautiful examples of Spanish modernismo. Today, it houses the Spanish society of authors and editors. It can only be visited from the outside, but you may cast a glance at the entrance hall and staircase.
SeeLa Latina-Austrias
Palacio Real
Royal Palace
The Palacio Real is an enormous palace, one of the biggest in Europe, with scorching plains of concrete around it. Though it is the official residence of the King of Spain, the royal family does not actually reside here and it is generally used only for state ceremonies. The Royal Palace is considered to be one of the most emblematic and beautiful buildings in Madrid, not only for its location on a bluff overlooking the river valley but also for its architecture and the artistic treasures to be found in its rooms. A simple one-way tour of the palace (both self-guided and guided are available) takes you up the grand stairway and through the lavishly decorated state rooms with their elegant tapestries, frescoes, porcelain, carvings and added decor like china, silverware, medals, etc. From the courtyard you can access the Farmacia (Pharmacy), which contains hundreds of bottles of early medicines and a reconstructed laboratory, and the Real Armorial (Royal Armory), a two-story collection of medieval weapons and armor. Explanations in the armory are in Spanish only, so do not expect to understand much unless your know the Spanish names for all that medieval weaponry. The lines to get in are very long, especially on weekday evenings when the place is free – try to go early. Photography inside the palace is not allowed, but is permitted in the foyer and courtyard. Free storage lockers are available behind the ticket office. The Palace was built on the site of an Alcazar (a Muslim fortress) which had been used as a palace but burned down. It was one of the first major buildings by the new Bourbon dynasty and shows a departure from the earlier styles and tastes of the Habsburgs in evidence in other royal buildings in the area.
Oct-Mar daily 10:00-18:00, Apr-Sep daily 10:00-20:00; last admission 1 hr before closing; closed occasionally for official ceremoniesEntry €11; guided tour additional €4; students and children €6; free (disabled/teachers/children under 5); free M-Th 16:00-18:00 (Oct-Mar) and 18:00-20:00 (Apr-Sep) for EU citizens, legal residents, and citizens of Latin American countries (valid ID/passport required)
SeeNorthern Suburbs
Palacio Real de El Pardo
Royal Palace of El Pardo
It was built as a hunting lodge for the Spanish royal family, and was commandeered by Francisco Franco to serve as his residence. Today it serves as the official guest house for foreign dignitaries visiting Madrid, and is also open to the public when not in use. Check out the vast collection of tapestries hanging from the palace walls, some of which were even designed by the painter Francisco Goya.
Tue-Sun 10:00-19:00 (last admission at 18:00)€9 (adults), €4 (reduced); free W and Su 15:00-19:00
SeeSalamanca
Parque de El Capricho
One of the most beautiful parks in Madrid. Built in 1797-1839, it has a strong Romanticism influence. Declared as an Historic Garden, its lakes with swans and ducks, labyrinths, palaces, squares and fountains makes this a lovely place.
Oct-Mar: Sat Sun and holidays 09:00-18:30 (last admission at 18:00); Apr-Sep: Sat Sun and holidays 09:00-21:00 (last admission at 20:30)
SeeNorthern Suburbs
Parque de El Capricho
One of the most beautiful parks in Madrid. Built in 1797-1839, it has a strong Romanticism influence. Declared as an Historic Garden, its lakes with swans and ducks, labyrinths, palaces, squares and fountains makes this a lovely place.
Oct-Mar: Sat Sun and holidays 09:00-18:30 (last admission at 18:00); Apr-Sep: Sat Sun and holidays 09:00-21:00 (last admission at 20:30)
SeeRetiro-Paseo del Arte
Parque del Retiro
El Retiro Park
The main park of Madrid, the perfect place to take a rest during a sunny day, or take part in the drum circles around the statue of Alphonso XII on summer evenings. There is a large boating lake where one can hire a rowing boat - great fun for the children! There is a monument to the victims of the Madrid 3/11 terrorist bombings, the Forest of the Absent, and the Crystal Palace, a large structure entirely made of glass. Sunday afternoons in summer are a treat in the park, where young hippies play bongos and dance.
Free (park)
SeeMoncloa
Templo de Debod
An Egyptian temple in one of Madrid′s most beautiful parks. Near the Royal Palace and Plaza de España, it was a present given by Egypt to Spain for its role in saving the temple of Abu Simbel from the floodwaters of Lake Nasser following the construction of the Aswan Dam in southern Egypt. A great place to watch the sunset. Usually a queue. Only 30 people allowed in the area at a time
Oct-Mar: Tue-Fri 10:00-14:00 16:00-18:00, Sat Sun and holidays 09:30-20:00; Apr-Sep: Tue-Fri 10:00-14:00 18:00-20:00, Sat Sun and holidays 09:30-20:00; last admission 15 min before closingFree
DrinkLa Latina-Austrias
The Sherry Corner
Sherry-tasting available in 8 languages. Commentary by knowledgeable oenologists explaining the details of the history, elaboration methods and tasting notes for each of the wines, while inviting guests to combine them with tapas served at different market stalls.
Do Not mapped
La Trashumancia
Annual event during which the centre of Madrid is free of cars and is instead filled with shepherds exercising their ancient right to drive sheep and livestock through the city.
SeeChamberí-Castellana Not mapped
Monumento a Rizal
José Rizal Monument
Honors Filipino national hero José Rizal (1861-1896), a revolutionary who was executed by the Spanish in Manila. This is a replica of the more famous "Motto Stella", which is located near his execution site at Rizal Park. This replica was built and inaugurated in 1996, marking the 100 year anniversary of Rizal's death. In the decades since its inauguration, it's become an important landmark for Filipinos visiting Madrid, and is a great opportunity for all to learn a bit more about this era of Spanish history.
free

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Madrid (CC BY-SA 4.0).